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Police in Belgium are loaning bikes to cycle theft victims

10-strong short-term loan fleet in Veurne comprises recovered bikes unclaimed by owners

Police in Belgium are lending bicycles to victims of bike theft to enable them to get back in the saddle as soon as possible.

BBC News, citing a video report from Belgian broadcaster Focus-WTV, says that police in Veurne, West Flanders, are running the initiative for people who live there and in neighbouring Alveringem and Lo-Reninge.

The 10-strong fleet of loan bikes provided by the Spoorkin police zone comprises recovered bicycles for which no lawful owner has come forward.

People whose bikes have been stolen can borrow one from the police, free of charge, for up to a week.

Some 75 bicycles are reported stolen in the area concerned each year, although the number of thefts is believed to be higher.

The railway station in Veurne is a particular target for bike thieves, and there are plans to move the bike parking there, with the new installation also benefiting from CCTV.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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